By Kristin Helwig
One skillet chicken and orzo, 30 minutes, quick easy and lots of vegetables! Spiced seared chicken, cooked together with tons of spinach, asparagus and mushrooms mixed with lemony orzo. Then topped with green olives, feta and cilantro. It’s hard to beat, and is sure to …
Creamy peanut noodles tossed together with lots of crisp vegetables and seared crispy halloumi, it’s such a vibrant flavorful dish. The peanut sauce is made with garlic, ginger, creamy peanut butter and red curry paste. Ingredients Peanut Sauce Directions Starting with the peanut sauce, in …
When the best of both worlds come together, buffalo cauliflower and crispy buffalo Brussels sprouts. On the healthier side too. Tossed in buffalo sauce, drizzle of honey and topped with gorgonzola. It would be a great addition to the game day spread! Ive already eaten …
In an effort to start eating really healthy in the new year this is going to you be a new favorite. Simply roasted vegetables with a little olive oil, salt and black pepper, seared halloumi, bright vibrant green goddess sauce all served over brown rice. …
Spring is the best time for asparagus! What better way to use it all up with this really easy side. The asparagus is perfectly roasted and then topped with a bright and colorful cherry tomatoes and seared halloumi that’s tossed in an herb salsa verde. …
I mean what’s better than a big bowl of noodles? Of course you can buy store bought but there is truly something special about homemade noodles if you have the time. This dish is just packed with so many different flavors. You can always adjust …
After a long week of traveling and eating out at restaurants, sometimes I just want to come home to something really delicious, healthy and comforting. This bowl has so many wonderful flavors and textures it’s similar to the Korean dish bibimbap. But we use left …
This crispy feta rice bowl is everything I’m craving during the summer. Crispy warmed feta, cool cucumbers, juicy sweet tomatoes, salty olives, all the creamy tzatziki, herbs and homemade naan. It’s become a new favorite. When you’re not really wanting to cook but want a …
Weeknight meals can sometimes just be so hard, getting a good meal on the table. From work, to practices, to homework it all adds up. Let these peanut noodles help get that meal on the table in no time. The sauce comes together really fast …
These noodles are great when you are looking for something on the healthier side instead of takeout. Packed with ground turkey and lots of vegetables stir fried together with a sweet, salty, garlic ginger sauce, you will have dinner not he table in about 30 …
If you’ve never had Korean BBQ before this is so inviting! It’s a great way to bring family and friends around the table. Marinated beef ribeye or short ribs, thinly sliced and grilled around a table loaded up in lettuce wraps and it’s really all …
Crisp vegetables with pulled rotisserie chicken, scallions, dry roasted peanuts and lots of creamy umami peanut sauce. This dish is really easy to put together and a great way to use up extra vegetables in the fridge. I like the combination of the fresh vegetables …
Ohhhh cacio e pepe I love you! If you’ve never had it before cacio e Pepe in Italian just means cheese and pepper. So this is like a stripped down Mac and cheese. Cacio e Pepe is a beautiful classic as it is, but I …
When it starts getting cold outside all I think about is ramen! There really is nothing more comforting. This one is a rich chicken broth with lots of noodles, roasted squash, crispy chicken, sautéed mushrooms and kale, a little toasted nori, and a soft egg. …
Rice bowls are always a really fast family favorite around here!! They are so quick and easy to make with the best of summer produce now it’s even better! Of course you can always switch up what’s fresh as well. This is also great cold …
With the gardens bursting with eggplants, tomatoes and herbs I love making this delicious Sicilian dish! The eggplant is like a sponge and just soaks all the flavors up. I like to add some Kalmata olives and briney capers just to add some brightness with …
Potato pancake or latkes are so simple and easy to make! They are like individual little hash browns so perfect to accompany any dish! Super crispy on the outside and light and soft on the inside. Spoon a little of the chive sour cream over …
This is one of my oldest favorite recipes, it just reminds me of my grandma! She always made the best ones, is it knowing that grandma made them that makes it extra special? I was never able to quite figure out her recipe but I …
It may be the dead middle of summer, but I enjoy noodle bowls all year round. I’ve also just really been craving comforting fall/winter food. But I just love them! And this one is no exception, it’s the Thai version of chicken noodle soup with …
This last week was a really tough week I believe for everyone, I couldn’t even cook I was so saddened by what had happened. But I’m hoping now that things are looking up and going to get better. On another note we had gone home …
This plate of seared chicken and halloumi is so bright and flavorful! I was playing around with flavors last night for dinner and came up with this. It’s a creamy herby lemon yogurt underneath broccoli and mushroom orzo, salty seared halloumi and seared chicken! All …
I’ve been having a real obsession with this crispy rice lately also know as tahdig or Persian Rice. I got the cook book Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat a while ago from a friend, and also watched her show on Netflix. If you …
It’s amazing how a few simple ingredients can just be so comforting! That’s whats so beautiful about soups, just be so creative with them. You can really use whatever leftover vegetables you want. I just had broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, and carrots left over from …
Sweet potatoes of some sort are always a must have on the Thanksgiving table. Instead of the normal marshmallow topping I wanted to switch it up and do a little herb pecan crisp on top. It’s sweet, crunchy nutty crips on top of creamy mashed …
This is a new side that I made up to add to the table this year. I always love to have some green on the table against all the beautiful golden colors. The brussel sprouts are blanched in hot boiling water and then shocked in …
This skillet scalloped corn is totally old school but such a perfect side dish for any Thanksgiving. We have had this at the Thanksgiving table every year and it’s always such a favorite! It’s a perfect way to get children to eat their vegetables. Its …
I just posted the whipped acorn squash and apple puree and paired it tonight for dinner along with seared chicken and brussel sprouts! Such a perfect fall dinner. All the flavors just pair so well together. Make sure to get the nice sear crust on …
With Thanksgiving right around the corner everyone is trying to put together the perfect menu. Thinking about all the sides that need to go along with the perfectly cooked turkey. Well if you want to try a little something different this is it. I roast …
Rice bowls are one of those things that are so simple and quick to put together. You can be so creative with anything you want to put on top of them. I love making mediterranean platters, just putting all these topping on a plate and …
Who doesn’t love good dill pickles?! They are so crisp and refreshing and slightly spicy from a pinch of red pepper. The dill is so bright and delicious, I could probably eat a whole jar of these. The farmers markets are bursting with all the …
Bibimbap is traditionally a Korean rice bowl with thinly sliced beef, rice, pickled vegetables and an egg. I made this superfood healthy version of this bibimbap and let me tell you it is so dang good! It has so many textures and flavors that I …
I’m so excited about this recipe! It’s my new favorite vegetarian go to. The whole cauliflower gets smokey and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the poaching liquid infuses into the cauliflower and roasting it makes it crispy. While there is a …
We love salmon in this house, we probably eat it once or twice a week. This is my simple go to for salmon, it’s quick and easy but yet comforting. The maple adds a nice crust on the salmon and the mustard adds a nice …
Pot pies to me are pure comfort food. With the temperatures dropping and the holidays around the corner I love making something that just warms the soul. There’s a ton of root vegetables at the farmers market right now so I thought this would …
One of our favorite go to meals is a good stir fry. Especially when I have a bunch of fresh vegetables from the market. Plus it’s a great way to clean out the fridge. I got beautiful purple cauliflower heads from the market and …
After a long week of eating way too much with the holiday and grilling out, I wanted to make something that was super light, and healthy. I had gone to the fish market and found some great sushi grade tuna and then the farmers …
I recently cooked a special birthday dinner for a good friend and his wife. It was a surprise rooftop dinner over looking the city of St. Paul, there was sparkly lights, flowers and so much love as a record player played in the background. …
Happy Spring! Saturday was the first day of the outside farmers market, I was so excited to see all the spring produce. I only got a couple of things but felt inspired to make a spring tortellini dish. The basil brings a certain herby …
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up what better way to celebrate than with a little Irish Guinness beef stew. Pure comfort! The longer it cooks the richer it gets and the beef just gets more tender and melts in your mouth. It will keep …
Happy Oktoberfest everyone! What better way to celebrate the German heritage by going to Germany in your own kitchen. I marinated the beef overnight in red wine and red wine vinegar with herbs and spices to give it that sour, tangy taste. It’s rich …
 Well I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!! I found this recipe of halloumi crusted lamb and thought it would be fun with chicken to make it a little lighter. If you have never had halloumi before, let me introduce you. It’s a …
When I was at the market the other day I found some awesome huckleberries that were locally grown. I had to incorporate it into dinner! I then found sea bass from the fish market and thought they would be perfect together. The sauce is sweet and …
Chimichurri beef fajitas or tacos are such an easy go to around here. I just recently figured out an awesome recipe to make homemade flour tortillas. I add a couple of spices in them to make them so flavorful. They are so much better than the …
One of my favorite breads to make during the summer is zucchini bread with all the bountiful zucchini at the farmers market during the summer. The blueberries I had gotten from berry picking up in the Keweenaw Peninsula. There are tons of wild berries …
Grain bowls are one of my new favorite things ever! They are super healthy and can be loaded with anything you want. I found some awesome forbidden rice and farro so I combined the two and it’s the perfect texture! I kept it vegetarian …
I’m so excited to share this recipe! Think of a lobster roll with a twist. We can’t eat enough salmon and pesto around here and pairing it with all the fresh vegetables from the market, it’s amazing! I got all the produce from the …
When you’re trying to eat healthy, but still want that protein, fish is always a great option. We love the mild flavor and flakiness of Halibut, so we eat a lot of it. So, I’m always trying to come up with recipes to make each …
This is one of my absolute favorite meals. Where everyone can just gather around the table and everyone passes it around family style with a lots of juicy tomatoes, crisp English cucumbers, Kalmata olives, good Greek feta cheese, chicken or lamb kofta, babaganoush, tzatziki, garlic …
I had a salad similar to this when I was up in Grand Marais, MN, it was one of my favorite salads of all time! Up in Grand Marais they are known for their whitefish and happen to have some of the best right out …
I have been wanting to make these for quite some time now. They are the perfect little dumpling if you’re looking to make your own dim sum. You can really add any kind of filling you would like inside. Be creative! Traditionally these are …
This is my 100th post!! I wanted to do something simple and special with my twist on it so what better way than with an awesome chicken dish. The chicken thighs are juicy with a perfect crispy skin (that’s key), sweet and creamy parsnips with …
Happy Spring! Last night’s dinner, homemade lemon herb fettuccine with a ton of bright spring veggies and a lemon olive oil drizzled over the top. This dish is so light and vibrant, you could eat it hot or save it for leftovers and eat it …
When I was at the store the other day there was an awesome deal on wild swordfish. I couldn’t resist! Swordfish is a very mild fish so you can really put any flavors you want with it. But these flavors together really compliment the …
On cold winter nights there is nothing better to me than a spicy warm broth with noodles, especially homemade broth! The longer it sits and simmers on the stove the better. It just gets richer and more delicious. Also the beautiful thing about these …
I feel like during the winter I could eat spicy noodles every day! There is just something so warm and comforting about it. These are super quick and easy noodles. You can always make them with no vegetables as well but I love the …
These are the perfect little appetizers! I made them for my friends baby shower. So light and fresh, the herbs just brightens it right up. The pesto would be perfect to spread on a pizza or sandwich as well! Ingredients Pesto 1 (10 ounce) bag …
One of my favorite fall vegetables along with many is the deliciously sweet butternut squash. I always grew up eating lots of acorn squash so I wanted to make a soup with both and add just a touch more sweetness and tartness from the …
This is my absolute new favorite salad! I found a whole bunch of kale and baby arugula from the farmers market and was craving this after my run yesterday. The arugula gives it a nice peppery spicy bite, while the squash and cherries add a …
I love love love making homemade pasta! There is nothing quite like it. There’s something very soothing and rustic about kneading dough. I have been thinking about adding pumpkin to homemade pasta for a while and this is what I came up with. The …
Happy apple season!! We went to the apple orchard on Sunday and filled up with tons of apples and found these awesome apple brats, so I had to make these. The apple sauce is so rich and delicious and easy to make. Your …
This is such a fun twist on couscous! It makes the couscous nutty and crunchy, packed with all the delicious Mediterranean flavors. Ingredients  2 tbsp. scallions, sliced 1 tbsp. capers, minced 1 cup kalamata olives, chopped ½ cup red bell peppers, cored, seeded and …
This is perfect for all the end of the summer corn. It’s creamy and rich and total comfort food that will warm you right up on a cold day!  Ingredients 1 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ½ cup yellow onion, small …
So my husband and I just celebrated our one year anniversary up in Grand Marais, MN and it was such an amazing experience. There were so many local little stores up there with wild rice, maple syrup and jams so I had to take some …
These are great vegetarian burgers pack full of flavors. Sweet and tart from the chutney to creamy and spicy with the arugula pesto! The sauces make it! Roasted Vegetable Wild Rice Burgers  Ingredients  2 ½ cups wild rice, cooked ½ cup red bell …
This is such a fun twist on a pizza. It’s perfect for an appetizer or dinner. Having the mushroom as the crust makes it a great vegetarian and gluten free option! Ingredients 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 4 Portobello mushrooms ¼ cup red …
This is a perfect appetizer for a backyard BBQ or just as a snack. If you can’t find heirloom cherry tomatoes just use all cherry tomatoes, but the assorted colors is just so beautiful you can’t beat it!  Ingredients 2 cups corn, husked and …
I have had a real coconut obsession lately! I had a whole bunch of raw coconut that I shaved from my most recent one and wanted to incorporate it into a salad. I also found a bunch of dried fruit from the store so I …
You’re grilling everything else this summer why not a bread salad! This is a Mediterranean twist on a classic Italian summer side. This salad is so versatile and you can put whatever you want in it. Ingredients ¾ loaf Ciabatta, grilled and diced 2 …
Pair this easy little salad up with the Mexican Corn and you have an amazing summer dish. Light, sweet and smokey! It’s perfect. Ingredients 3-4 heads Romaine Lettuce 2 skinless chicken breasts, boneless 2 tsp. lemon zest and juice 2 tsp. lime zest and juice 1 …
Happy summer!! These are perfect for the backyard BBQ or for 4th of July right around the corner! Ingredients 2-4 corn cobs 2 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. garlic 2 tbsp. cilantro, minced 2 tbsp. lime juice pinch of red pepper flakes sprinkle of grated parmesan …
If you are looking for a healthy dish jam-packed with flavors, textures and colors this is it!! We are obsessed with it. It has sweet, spicy, salty, crisp, nutty the list goes on… Try it out!!  Ingredients 1 cup red pepper, cored, seeded, julienned 1 …
This quick and easy little dip has become a real staple at all our family gatherings. When you get perfectly ripe tomatoes and combine with the salty brine of feta and the sweet tanginess of the balsamic its perfection! Â Ingredients 2 cups Roma tomatoes, …
I have become obsessed with purple potatoes! I love the flavor and the color is amazing. So I have been playing around with this recipe to try and keep the potatoes purple and found out roasting them is the secret! The orange, purple, green and …
These are an explosion of flavors and colors, and the great thing about these is you can top them with anything you want! Perfect for any fiesta or along with a margarita! Ingredients  4 corn tortillas 2 chicken breasts 1 cup corn 1 cup …
This pasta is a party on a plate! It is so colorful and delicious!!! Ingredients For the Broccoli Pesto: 2 cups broccoli, just the florets; try and cut as much of the stem off as possible 1 ½ tbsp. lemon zest ¼ cup lemon juice …
You can be so creative with this burger!! And that’s why I can’t get enough of them. You can top it with anything you want. I just like the tomato, feta, arugula combo because it complements the burger. Have fun with this one! For the Garlic …
This is so much fun to make, and so easy. I love watching the puffed pastry rise and fall in the oven. The flavors just compliment each other so wonderfully. When baking the puffed pastry, make sure to poke enough holes in it so it …
These are great for a vegetarian dinner, and making these are so easy, healthy and versatile. You can put really any kind of filling inside that you would like! The lemon really adds a nice freshness, and brightens them right up!! Plus, you can’t beat that …
This is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Packed full of veggies, color and flavor, it’s definitely a go-to around here because it’s so easy to make!! Also, with the sauces, you can always switch them up but I like homemade pesto and tomato …
